VETERINARY CLUB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4977, 21 May 1926, Page 4

VETERINARY CLUB.

HAURAKI PLAINS BODY. ANNUAL MEETING. • The fourth annual general meeting of the Fanners’ Veterinary Club was held a,t Ngatea, on Tuesday, Mr A. J. Andrews presiding. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual, report was as follows : “In presenting the fourth annual report the Board of. Management would point out that the'year’s operations compare very favourably with previous, years. The monthly meetings of the committee have been regularly a,nd well, attended. You will no doubt recollect tha,t at the last annual meeting a recommendation was made to the Board of Management to use every effort to procure a motorear for the veterinary surgeon. This was taken in hand, and a ca,r was procured through Hare, Bros., Paeroa, at a cost o? £ll5. Part) of thfe was paid in cash, and terms were arranged for the balance. Since the car lias been secured the Club has enrolled several new members, and it has assisted in considerably reducing the initial cost of the .car and .also* assisted in maintaining the usual membership of the club.. Although some few members have 'resigned, the number of ne.w 1 members exceeds resignations. It will be noted that the outstanding accounts .are net proportionately as large .as in previous years.- This is principally due ,to the amount that has been collected and invested in the car. “During the autumn got in touch with 'the Agricultural; Department with 'regard to the establish-* ment of experimental plots in the district. Mr Patterson visited the Plains and went into the mutter, and also delivered a' lecture to farmers. “The strength of the Club remains much about the same, but there is reason to believe that with the addition of the car, which will enable thesurgeon to move about more quickly, this: will be the means df giving present members'better service and add further to the roll of membership. So far, the -cost of maintenance. of the ca<T has been fairly low, bujt this cannot be taken as a basis of the annual cost of maintenance, as the car was, in good order when purchased. “During the year the amount of. complaints ha.s been df little or,no importance, and I have every reajson to believe the veterinary surgeon hae done his best to give members his best attention and service”

' BALANCE-SHEET. < The sta,lament pf receipts and ex-' penditnre for the year ended March 31, 1926, showed that membership fees amounted to £s4'2' 2s 6d, and sales of drugs, etc., totalled £204 9S' 6d. There was a credit balance a<t the beginning of the year of £lO 2s 10d, while £6O had be.en borrowed to pay the deposit on the motor-car. The expenditure included.£463 fQr salaries. £l23'2s for medicines, - £ll5 for the car, arid miscellaneous, items to bring the, total to £769 19s 6d., The credit' balance was £46 1,55. 4d. s The. statement of assets a,nd liabilities showed that ’ outstanding subscriptions amounted to £ll7, outstanding charges on drugs! £63 2d, 'cash in bank £54 9s ,7d, and the car was valued at £9O. The liabilities were merely sundry accounts, and .the balance of assets over liabilities was £241 Ils 9d- : SUURGEON’S REPORT. The Club’s veterina.ry surgeon, Mr J. Costello, reported as follows ‘“‘Dtirng the year 1 have attended numerous 'cases; and generally speaking conditions have improved during the past year. Tuberculosis lias beeh less prevalent, during the past twelve months. I have had splendid results with garget. Jn fact, almost invariably, when taken in time, .the result .has be.en perfect. There. has been a remarkable improvement in the swine during the year, due to better husbanding and conditions generally. During the winter months, I would recommend farme'rs to pay special attention to swine., keep them warm, well fed, and housed. There is a great future for- this 'industry bn the Plains. A point 1 would very much like to stress to fanners is lupus in swineI would advise everyone to get. advice at the first sign df this. I- have been able Vo. very successfully treat

jdrginitas, and am! pleased .to state it is on the decline. /. “In conclusion, I wish to express my sincere thanks to the president, committee, secretary, and members of tlie’Club for their courtesy to me during the year.”

PAYMENT iOF SURGEON. ■ In accordance with his notice of motion Mr Andrews moved, and it was decided, that the agreement between tiro Club a,nd Mi- Costello be considered with a vie.w to altering the terms thereof.

Mr Andrews pointed out that undei tlie agreement the surgeon was toi receive the whole of the fees after 96 members had been enrolled until such time as he’received £750 a yearIn .the agreement it .was also stated that the surgeon wais to provide his own means of transport. The surgeon was still on lhe minimum wage df £4'so, and at this salary he. could not be expected to. purchase a bar. The club had therefore purchased a car. There were now 96 members, and) according to the agreement the surgeon was to get the fees of any new members. Ninety-six members at £5 ea.ch only amounted to £3O over the surgeon’s salary, and the cl;ub : could not be. expected to maintain the car out. of this. ■

The matter was considered at great length, and it was moved by Mr C. H. Waite that the car be given to the surgeon, and that he be also pa,id 50 per cent, of the membership fees of new members that bring the total above 96. From the time the cajr was given to .the surgeon he was to maintain it or any car so long as he Was the servant of the club.

After the luncheon adjournment Mr J. Neate moved as an amendment : “That the salary of the veterinary surgeon be increased to £soo' per ap _ num; that the minimum membership be fixed at; 106, and from then on the surgeon receive remuneration on, the sliding, scale. hi the original agreement; that, the surgeon take ever the car at valuation, and that as long as he is a servant, of the club lie pia.intain a motor-car for the club’s benefit.”

The amendment was carried unanimously, and it was decided that the offer lie placed before the suKgeon immedin.tely. !

The value pf the car for the purpose of the decision was fixed at £5O, and it was agreed that this should come put of the first year’s, increase of salary. f A committee thereupon waited upon the veterinary surgeon, who desired time to consider the offer. It was therefore, decided that the matter he left in the hndsa of ,the incoming committee.

INSURANCE OF SURGEON, x . It Was decided tha.t the club effect cover for the .surgeon under the Workers’ Compensation Act. APPOINTMENT' OF OFFICERS. Prior to vacating the chair Mr Andrews thanked the members of the committee and the staff for their assistance during his term of office. He would not he ajvailablei for office during the coming year. ;

Nominations were then called for a.nd everyone in the, rocm wais: mentioned, but a,ll declined. Finally Mr G. T. Davidson accepted the office.

Messrs T. A. McClean and J. Darlington were appointed vice-presi-dents, and Messrs C. H. Waite, R. Burke, C. W. Schultz, A.; Cleaver, and G. Phillips tire management committee.. Mr C. A, Gibson, 'reappointed secretary and M'r . E. L. Walton auditor. ?

In , moving a vote, of thapks to the retiring president, Mr A, J. Andrews; Mr A. Clea.ver said that-hei had taken control; when the club was practically bankrupt, and by his untiring energy had brought it *to a. flourishing state. ■ The vote was carried by hearty acclamation. Marriage, is a lottery—lots of weddings' are ; -Life itself’s a gamble—so is health; Feeling good this morning—evening below par; ‘ Feeling good is better far than wealth. Well., then, when you’re peaky, s-neezy, with a cough, Don’t you want a trueblue life renewter ?, House yourself, old,Sunbeam! Fight th© foe right off With a course df Wood's’ Great Peppermint. Cure.,